The pros don’t need much. This can be seen in the Hofgarten in Munich behind the Residenz. Three men stand together. One throws the red target piece, the cochonnet, so that it is a few meters away. Then he draws a line with his foot on the sparsely graveled ground. The drop line is marked, let’s go. The youngest of the three makes an equally difficult impression, because he throws his thrower’s ball far offside with a hard throw. Such game scenes can almost always be observed in the historic heart of Munich behind the Residenz, where the best players gather in the shade of the trees. In Unterschleißheim, on the other hand, the boule alley in Valentinspark is mostly deserted. The city is puzzled about the reasons.
Thomas Breitenstein (SPD) recently addressed the city council’s environment and transport committee that something must have gone wrong with the railway system. He confessed to being a supporter of the French national sport himself and reported that he had looked at tracks and venues here and there. Finally, he asked whether too “coarse chippings” had simply been applied to the newly created track in Valentinspark. Elsewhere, such as at Hollerner See, the venues would be much better accepted. And the two railways on the business campus are also more frequented.
The boule alley in Valentinspark is hardly used anymore.
(Photo: private)
Now the municipal building authority has given some thought after an unknown donor provided 200,000 euros at the beginning of the year to beautify the Valentinspark. A boules pitch was on the donor’s wish list and so the decision was made to create one in the northern area of the park near the large playground. The administration got smart. Although that turned out to be difficult. Because: “There is no DIN standard,” said the representative of the building authority at Breitenstein’s request. Boule courts are not mentioned at all in the Bavarian ordinance for the construction of playgrounds and sports facilities.
But elsewhere it was also possible without a DIN standard. Breitenstein reported that he had looked at the track in Oberschleißheim that members of FC Phönix built themselves with the support of the community. A lot is played there, said Breitenstein. “It’s in use.” He also played in the Hofgarten in Munich. In his opinion, the wrong, rough surface in Valentinspark keeps players from throwing their balls. However, the representative of the building authority countered that the soil in the courtyard garden in particular was not the best. There are hollows in which puddles formed when it rained. And cyclists crisscross there. Despite this, the Hofgarten has been extremely well received by the players. Ultimately, there was a dispute between Breitenstein and the building authority as to which grain size would be best. The SPD city council still referred to the specifications of the German and Bavarian Concrete Associations. There is information about them from them.
Teams often come together at the two lanes on the business campus.
(Photo: private)
A board on the train in the business campus points out the rules.
(Photo: private)
Stephan Hof, Managing Director of DV Immobilien, manages the campus and tells us that the Boule Association asked for advice on the layout of the lanes on the business campus. There is no lively market place or an attractive venue in the midst of a historical ensemble like in Munich. After all, the boule lanes are in a shady spot under tall plane trees. That reminds me of France. In 2020, the tracks should be inaugurated with a French festival, with good food and a small tournament. In 2021, too, the plans to put the system into operation as it should have fallen through. Corona slowed things down, says Stephan Hof.
Nevertheless, according to Hof, teams meet on campus again and again to play matches. They wanted to create a place in the neighborhood where people could come together. That was quite successful. The facility is open to all residents of Unterschleißheim: From Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., boules sets can be borrowed from the campus administration. The rules are written on a blackboard. The track in Valentinspark can be used at any time. It is located next to a large shady tree, there is also seating with a table. What is missing are definitely players.